Evening gents (and ladies). Wow, what a frustrating period of time we are experiencing. Now that Kasper has officially gone I am starting to get more impatient with the lack of activity and gaps to fill in our threadbare squad. I'm jetting off for just under two weeks tomorrow so thankfully I can get away from stalking the footy sites to see if we have signed any quality players who can make an impact straight away.
I will be having sneaky looks while I am abroad but the beach should take my mind off it. I live in hope! Before anybody knocks me, I'm not one of the negative ones just one of the very frustrated at the lack of conviction we have for what Bates would regards as a 'Promotion Winning Season'.
Let's hope that we have at least one new key first team member tomorrow. MOT.
Getting away from all of this...
posted on 27/6/11
Why are you getting impatient, we've just signed 2 keepers, what more do you want?
posted on 27/6/11
er jonty 2 ?????
posted on 27/6/11
Yes, the young lad from Ireland.
posted on 28/6/11
I see Manu have signed a new keeper. Maybe Kuziak (spelling?) on loan might be a rumour that turns into reality.
posted on 28/6/11
Yes good point Jonty however I know what angle you are going in on this one! I believe that 9 out of 10 Leeds fans feel the same.
We need to see good players coming in. We are still an attractive proposition, if only we could start matching the other clubs in our league who pay what is the going rate for quality proven Championship players.
posted on 28/6/11
notley, I've been underwhelmed by activity to date.
If Graysoin truly believes he has teh core of a promotion winning squad that requires very few changes, he just lost his credibility right there.
I am expecting us to shuffle the deck chairs, see Howson as a DM, lose one of Snoddy or Gradel, hope that Kisnorbo can go injury free and see Brown come in in goal.
Will White finally get a chance? Will Lees get a chance? Will Somma still be a peripheral figure?
Am not optimistic about Grayson's plans at present.
I really think the money is prioritised for the stand and hotel.
posted on 28/6/11
Ditto! I am a little concerned too by those comments that SG made. He is your typical 'sit on the fence and say the obvious' but I believe that is all down to Bates and the way he wants his management team to work with the media.
I too think he will try redeploy players in to new areas of the pitch unless we do get the quality signings in. I will certainly keep checking the OS and this forum for updates. The only thing is I won't be able to post using my phone.
It would be nice to see White given a shot along with Tom Lees. Somma, McCormack and Becchio are our main strikers for me and will get plenty of football next season. Looking at the options we have including Nunez and Sam, we really need to strengthen the engine part of the midfield, left back (Lichaj could be an option and could also fill in for Conns when injured/out of form etc). One more proven CB would be nice too.
Lastly, I agree that too much money is being used for extra curricular things such as the hotel. I am one of the box holders in the East Stand and although I enjoy having it (I do sit out within the stand for all matches regardless of the weather!), I don't see the need for all the extra boxes they are installing.
posted on 28/6/11
re your last paragrpah, there's always a reason behind things with Bates.
One thing tot think about. There was an approach by a far eastern group to buy Leeds specifically this Spring.
The asking price was far to high. ER and TA were included in the deal.
Pretty neat trick when you don't apparently own them eh?
posted on 28/6/11
I never knew that about the Far Eastern group/consortium. It does surprise me that the group and training facility can be part of that deal unless the new owners were simply taking on the lease contracts?
The question is, why does Bates at the grand old age that he is, want to keep in charge of a football club of our profile with high expectations? That is where I struggle to see his motivation.
posted on 28/6/11
I know of them and one other approach before we went into admin.
If I know about those 2, I imagine that there's another 6 at least that I don't know about.
The feedback from this bid was that there was no clarity as to who owned what, especially pertaining to debt around the club and that they felt that Bates didn't really want to sell.